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Grace-Based Parenting Tip & Giveaway

*UPDATE* Congratulations to Sarah! She won the book, but make sure you check back for the next couple of weeks where I’ll be sharing more parenting tips and giving away more great resources! And go visit Family Matters, you won’t regret it!

Our summer vacation was unusual for us this year. Family Camp is a new concept for THAT family.

So is sitting in a classroom setting for an hour a day, while on vacation.

But I’ve never been happier to be a student.

We had an amazing guest speaker/author: Dr. Tim Kimmel, President of Family Matters.

His specialty: Parenting. Specifically, Grace-based parenting.

The basic premise for this teaching is loving your kids the way God loves you.

It was profound. My hubby and I learned so much.

Dr. Kimmel started the series off by asking, “Do you have a parenting plan? Can you write it down?”

Gulp.

Not exactly. Sure, we have a five year financial plan. We’ve talked about our goals as a family and accomplishing our own personal dreams. But a plan to parent our kids? The job that we hold most dear? Nope.

Start from the bottom up, building on a foundation:Aim them at true greatness, rather than successBuild character in their heartFocus on meeting their inner needsMaintain a daily atmosphere of graceEstablish a foundation of faith in Christ.

(His books expound on each of these parts of the grace-based parenting plan).

This book is a must read for Christian parents! I’m giving away a copy today ($14 value), just leave a comment if you’re interested and I’ll be randomly choosing a winner tonight (Wednesday at 10 p.m CST). You can order one here.

Each week for the next month or so, I will be offering a Grace-Based Parenting Tip from one of Dr. Kimmel’s many books or something I’ve learned. (I’ll also be giving away one of the resources that Family Matter’s donated for me to giveaway).

Towards the end of the week of Family Camp, we sat down to eat lunch. Dr. Kimmel, his wife and two grand daughters (that they brought along to give their daughter some time alone with her hubby!) sat down at our table for lunch.

I nearly had a panic attack.

Lunch with THAT family is always an adventure. Drinks are spilled (my hubby tries, but he’s a bit clumsy); food is splattered; and the toddler? She doesn’t exactly excel at staying in her high chair.

We made light conversation and I ate so quickly, I had bread stuck in the back of my throat.I’m pretty sure God was watching that day, because do you know what my kids did?

Nothing. They were perfect. And that’s no small feat.

But even if it had been a disaster, there’s something special about grace that says, “Hey, it’s okay. God loves messy people.”

Food for the Soul:

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Talk about a book that is calling my name (especially today.) Sounds like it is a must read. In a few weeks we start a series called Discipline Them, Love Them (I think….) and I’m really looking forward to that too. I could use anything for my artillery. Smiles,Joni

Susan & John Yates also wrote a book on parenting. I believe it is called "Building a Home Full of Grace". it is EXCELLENT!! Where was your Family Camp? Kannakuk? The place in NY state whose name has escaped me? I know it was wonderful!!! I love your blog.

I read your blog religiously every morning while drinking my coffee, but have never posted before.

Anyhoo, just wanted to say that I really appreciated this post and definitely need this reminder on a daily basis. I am a mother of three sweet kids (11, 9 and 5)who make me crazy, but I would have it no other way!! LOL…

Well, I just thought that today seemed like a great day to finally *introduce* myself. 🙂

Yes, I'd love to win! Another great parenting resource is Chip Igram. I went through a weekly bible study at our church a couple years ago and it really hit home. The idea of a parenting plan & goals, YIKES! And, yes, flying by the seat of my pants plus not trying to hurt anyone, is what I'm up to lately!

Yes, I'd love to win! Another great parenting resource is Chip Igram. I went through a weekly bible study at our church a couple years ago and it really hit home. The idea of a parenting plan & goals, YIKES! And, yes, flying by the seat of my pants plus not trying to hurt anyone, is what I'm up to lately!

Wow–sounds like a wonderful book! This is something that’s really near and dear to my heart right now. I just purchased a family devotions book and am trying to parent more “deliberately” instead of just, as you said so well, “flying by the seat of our pants.” Even if I don’t win, I’ll definitely be checking it out! Thank you!

I saw this book in the church bookstore when my kids went to a local Bible School. I looked at it online but didn’t purchase it. No money in the book budget this month. I can’t wait to hear more from you on the book. Maybe I will win one!

We can definitely use this! My husband is a worship pastor and I am a teacher, and in our busy lives we want to be sure we are putting our children first and raising them as God would. Thanks for the chance!

*waving frantically in the air* pick me, pick me! If anyone needs to know how to parent with grace it is ME. I came from a rather authoritarian home and that is how I revert to when under stress (which is most of the time…lol)

We just started homeschool for our two boys 5 and 4. Need I say more? 🙂

Oh how easy it is for me to forget about “treating others how I want to be treated”…just because they are little people they are not exempt from this. May I be more aware of the grace I need to give today!

This sounds like the book I need right now. We went through “Growing Kids Gods Way” a couple years ago, and it was great. But we’ve gotten really ‘lax’ about doing the things we learned. And it shows! Our kids are just wild lately. So I think this book may be just what we need. I go to bed beating myself up sometimes b/c of the way I’ve talked to/treated my kids that day (not physically, but emotionally and verbally). I really want to be a better mommy, but I’m just not sure where to start.

NOTHING has exposed more of my sinful nature than the way my children can make me so angry. Some of my young married friends were sharing how their “ugliness” came out once they got married. I thought, “Just wait until you have kids!” My poor children! I am desperately trying to change (and continually asking God for patience)!

Sounds like we both survived family camp this summer. Ours was in the Sequoias in California. Nothing like taking the family to 7,500 ft. for a little togetherness LOL! It was a blast – although my husband prefers to call it our “land cruise” LOL! 🙂